The Sukagawa Peony Garden |
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 In
the third year of Meiwa (1766), Yurin Itoh, who was operating a
shop specializing in plants for medical use, brought back peony
plants from Setsu-no-kuni (now Takarazuka City in Hyogo Prefecture)
and nurtured them so their roots were available for medical use.
From this eventuated the Sukagawa Peony Garden which was proclaimed
a national place of scenic beauty in the 7th year of Showa, 1932.
To this day, it is the only one of its kind to be acclaimed as such.
From the beginning of May, over 200,000 visitors come to the 10-hectare-garden
to view the 290 kinds of peonies blooming. Standing at the main
gate is the statue of Botan-Hime, a princess of the peony. This
was erected in 1987 after borrowing the idea from a similar statue,
Botan-Senshi which stands in Ohjo Park, Rakuyo City, China. It represents
the bright future for exchange between the two cities. |
| Flower Center |
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 The
flower center adjacent to the peony garden displays many seasonal
flowers including peonies, cymbidiums, Queen of the Night and cyclamens.
Throughout the year, you can experience the sweet floral fragrances
from the flowers in bloom. |
| Okanbara Azalea Garden |
 The
Okanbara Azalea Garden is located near the Sukagawa interchange
in the west of the city. This originally was for ornamental purposes
in the Watanabe family's estate 300 years ago. At present, the 2-hectare-garden
is filled with approximately 10,000 azalea plants. There is a lovely
display of the oldest kind of azaleas, Edo-Nishiki, blooming in
red, pink and white contrasting against the fresh green color of
the leaves. |
| The Otsuji-Ga-Taki Falls |
 The
Otsuji-Ga-Taki falls was selected as one of the top 100 in Japan.
It is the only waterfall in the Abukuma River which rises from the
Nasu Highland. It is distinctive as it falls in the shape of the
Japanese Character "Otsu". The waterfall is 100 meters wide and
is located in a pine forest which makes for a magnificent view.
The famous haiku poet, Basho Matsuo visited this waterfall in the
second year of Genroku, 1689 and composed a haiku (a Japanese poem
consisting of only seventeen syllables). "Samidare no Taki furi
uzumu mikasa kana". "In early summer rain, the waterfall is falling
down, raising the river level." An engraved monument of this haiku
stands near the waterfall beside the Takimi-Fudoson Shrine. |
| Mt. Utsumine |
 Located
in the Abukuma mountain range is Mt.Utsumine which stands at 676.8
meters high. Magnificent views from Mt.Nasu to the city of Koriyama
can be seen from its summit. The opening of a mountain to climbers
is taken place on April 29th every year. Mt.Utsumine is crowded
with many families on that day. |
| The Shakado River |
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| Sukagawa prospered as a town for lodging
travelers in the Road Oshu, and it used to be an important point
for sea transportation of the Abukuma River and the Shakado River
bringing affluent supplies to the town. The landing places were
located around Kitamachi town and Nakajuku, and they played important
roles in sea transportation. The Kumado River and the Hiroto River
rising from Ohu Mountains meet to make the Ebana River which becomes
the Shakado River, and then the Shakado River meets the Abukuma
River. Shaka-Do-Sama, a statue of Shakamuni in a temple stands quietly.
"Nationwide Firework Festival of the Shakado River in Sukagawa City
" is held at the junction of the Shakado River and the Abukuma River
in late August every year. The Festival is noted as one of the things
Japanese in summer of Sukagawa. |
| Midorigaoka Park |
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 This
park has been selected as one of the top 100 urban parks in Japan.
It is 30 hectares in area and Mt.Gorozan, a site for the fire festival
(Taimatsu Akashi), is located within the park. There are 60 monuments
of Manyo poets, and the City Museum is also located here. It is
particularly noted as a showplace for cherry blossoms though many
visitors come to this park in all seasons. |
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